Mitch18373

Have owned this 1981 Corvette since 1986 and am trying to find out a little more about it.
Based on the Vin # (1G1AY8764B5108707) I believe it was one of the last ones built in the new Bowling Green Plant in 1981. Color is Dark Bronze (code 74) and interior is Camel or Leather. Might be Leather because on the Id. plate there is an "L" right after the color code 74, but looks like it could be either.
The car is absolutley original except for tires and has just recently turned over 40k miles
Question: I have never seen another corvette, of any year, painted this color (74 Dark Bronze). There is a small gold italicized # 7 located on the right rear bumper, just below the outer most tail light. According to the Corvette Black Book there were 432 cars produced in B-Green with this color.

Trying to find out the significance of the (7) on the right rear bumper and anything else any Corvette knowledgeable person can throw my way.

I was once told, but have never verified, that the car was one of the last L81's built in 1981 and was not built on the assembly line, but was built by a team. The number 7 on the bumper supposedly indicates that it was built by Team # 7.

Appreciate any info anyone can offer.
Thanks
Tom

hunt4cleanair

Yes...looks like the sequence ran to 8995 in 1981 at BG so your 8707 would be within a day or two of the end of production.

Black book codes show 50/74 for a beige/dark bronze or Camel as you indicate. Camel is the color shown for interior. Seems I recall that by 81, interior leather was a standard option. Is the paint two-tone?


I may be missing something here but weren't all 1981s L81s with the only variation one of transmission choice?

My view is that a "team #7" signature is a stretch. Don't know they would take the time to do that...factory workers were not into signing off on what we in the 21st century believe is special. It wasn't then...it was about production.

But it is interesting and deserves some study. My suggestion post a picture so it can be viewed in context. That would allow us annal retentives to offer an informed opinion...and you may get many of those.

Easy Mike

Your 7 is not likely to be stock and the story of being built off the assembly line sounds like another Corvette Myth.

You may want to consider contacting the NCM and see if you can obtain the build order for your car.

http://www.corvettemuseum.org/learn/...ndow-stickers/

Mitch18373

I uploaded a photo of the italicized number "7" - would like to hear other's opinion. BTW my vette is not two-toned. Thanks for all of your comments.

Mitch18373

Number "7" appears to have been painted on (no decal). Car has never been painted so I have to believe its been there since day one. Owned it since 1986 and bought from the original owner.
Will definitley contact the NCM and try to get the Build Order.
Thanks for the advice and comments.

hunt4cleanair

Corvette engineers sign the air cleaner cover when signing off on special editions. I cannot believe a factory worker would sign off on a rear tail lense fascia. It's probably a scratch!

Mitch18373

Now I'm really intrigued.
Check the air cleaner cover since it's original and there appears to be nothing there.
The "7" has been there since I've owned it (86) and really does look original. Definitely not a scratch.
Going to try and order the Build Order tomorrow and see if that will shed any light and go from there.
Again, thanks very much for the advice!

qwank

a lot can happen in 5 years

Easy Mike

They wouldn't. Paint repair would have gotten rid of the 7 and a line worker could have faced disciplinary action.

Contact the first owner and ask where the 7 came from.

7T1vette

The "7" is an interesting oddity. It's unlikely to have been placed on the car at the factory...but one never knows for sure. I would suggest that you keep it there for posterity, unless you can positively determine how it came to be. I suspect the original owner knows (or, at one time, knew) the details of that number and how it came to be applied to the car.

Mitch18373

Love to be able to find the original owner, because you're right, he might know. As I mentioned earlier, bought this car in 86 and the "7" was there then and is definitely meticulously painted on there. Based on the 81 VIN numbers it was one of the last 81's built in B-Green and not many were that Drk Bronze color according to the Black Book. May have some significance.

In any event, I've ordered a copy of the Build sheet from the Corvette Museum. That might show some light.

Thanks to all for the input.

Thanks